AsianScientist (Oct. 8, 2013) – Research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim inaugurated the expansion of its manufacturing plant and the building of its chemicals R&D laboratory Center of Competence in the Zhangjiang High-Tech Park in Shanghai.
The expansion, with an investment of approximately 70 million Euros, will make the Zhangjiang plant one of Boehringer Ingelheim’s most important sites in the Asia Pacific region. The number of employees will rise significantly to 350 and the production capacity will presumably be tripled until 2018.
“Our objective is to meet the demand for more health in China. It shows our continuous commitment to China and specifically Shanghai,” said Dr Wolfgang Baiker, Member of the Board of Managing Directors, responsible for Biopharmaceuticals and Operations. “With our investments in China we will be able to offer more innovative medicines for Chinese patients, helping them to improve health and quality of life.”
The plant expansion will help to establish new capabilities and capacities and a more effective supply chain to support Boehringer Ingelheim’s ambitious business plan in China. The future vision is to make the Shanghai plant a competitive regional supply site in Boehringer Ingelheim’s global operations network.
The project consists of a packaging center with space for high tech packaging lines, new quality control labs, and automated warehouse and logistics to ensure the reliable and high quality supply and also to launch new products. The main technologies are solid forms (tablets) and liquids (syrups) with a future output of over 150 million packages in 2016 and up to 220 million in 2018.
In addition, a new facility has been built for the Center of Competence, which has been relocated from Waigaojiao to this new site. This chemicals R&D laboratory, which started operation in 2010, specializes in optimizing process for and analytical testing of active pharmaceutical ingredients and chemical intermediates procured from Boehringer Ingelheim’s strategic partners in China.
“Operations together with our other strategic pillars – Prescription Medicines, Consumer Healthcare, Biopharmaceuticals and Animal Health – will continue to bring more health to China,” said David Preston, Chairman and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim China and Hong Kong.
On June 6, 2013, the company announced a joint project with Zhangjiang Base company in Shanghai to establish a platform to support and contribute to the development and manufacturing of high quality biologics for China.
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Source: Boehringer Ingelheim; Photo: mattza/Flickr/CC.
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